"Raccoon City, Population: 100,000." H read the wooden sign as they passed. "Guess it's 100,002 now, huh?" H was an attractive woman by most men's standards, standing 5'7 and weighing 125 lbs with bright blue-green eyes and chestnut, shoulder length hair. "Guess so." The man replied, never taking his eyes off the road. "Y'know, Jack, I always wanted to live in a city named after an animal." Jack was H's brother, though not by blood. He was 6'3 and weighed 200 lbs, though most of it was muscle. He had dark brown, shoulder length, wavy hair and carefully groomed facial hair that matched well with his chocolate brown eyes that never failed to make women swoon. "Well, you've already lived in Phoenix and Forks, not to mention the year you spent in Volterra, so you can check 'city named after a mythological creature' , 'city named after a utensil' and 'city named after a coven of vampires' off your list. What's next? No, wait, lemme guess, 'city named after a food'." Jack jokes, earning him one of H's famous 'death glares'. "Hardy har, smartass. Keep it up and you'll be taking all these damn boxes in on your own." Jack looks at her in horror. "You wouldn't." H smirks. "Oh yes I would. Now quit flapping your gums and drive. We're burnin' daylight. Hell, with the way you're driving we'll be lucky to make it by nightfall." "It's called 'doing the speed limit'. You should try it sometime." Jack snarks. "I'll be sure to tell you that next time we're on a hunt and you zoom by me at over 100 mph." H says, smirk still firmly in place. "That's different. There's no traffic in the woods." Jack defends. "Oh really? Tell that to the many trees you've crashed into, or the tons of campsites you've carelessly destroyed, and don't forget the deer you so mercilessly-" "OK! OK! I get it! I'll speed up!" Jack cuts her off and speeds up the car. "There. Better?" Jack asks. "Much." H confirms. The vehicle goes silent, other than Skillet's 'Awake' album blasting through the speakers.
I went to bed I was thinking about you
Ain't the same since I'm living without you
All the memories are getting colder
All the things that I wanna do over
I went to bed I was thinking about you
I wanna talk and laugh like we used to
When I see you in my dreams at night
It's so real but it's in my mind
And now
I guess
This is as good as it gets
Don't wake me
'Cause I don't wanna leave this dream
Don't wake me
'Cause I never seem to stay asleep enough
When it's you I'm dreaming of
I don't wanna wake up
I went to bed I was thinking about you
And how it felt when I finally found you
It's like a movie playing over in my head
Don't wanna look 'cause I know how it ends
All the words that I said that I wouldn't say
All the promises I made that I wouldn't break
It's last call, last song, last dance
'Cause I can't get you back, can't get a second chance
And now, I guess
This is as good as it gets
Don't wake me
'Cause I don't wanna leave this dream
Don't wake me
'Cause I never seem to stay asleep enough
When it's you I'm dreaming of
I don't wanna wake up
Don't wake me
We're together just you and me
Don't wake me
'Cause we're happy like we used to be
I know I've gotta let you go
But I don't wanna be alone
These dreams of you keep on growing stronger
It ain't a lot but it's all I have
Nothing to do but keep sleeping longer
Don't wanna stop cause I want you back
Don't wake me
'Cause I don't wanna leave this dream
Don't wake me
'Cause I never seem to stay asleep enough
When it's you I'm dreaming of
I don't wanna wake up
Don't wake me
We're together just you and me
Don't wake me
'Cause we're happy like we used to be
I know I've gotta let you go
But I don't wanna be alone
I went to bed I was thinking about you
Cause I don't wanna leave this dream
It ain't the same since I been here without you
Cause I never seem to stay asleep
I know I gotta let you go, I don't wanna wake up
"H?" Jack says. "Yeah?" H replies. "You okay?" Jack asks, the concern evident in his voice. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" H says, confused. "You're crying, H." Jack reaches over and wipes a stray tear from her cheek. "I am?" H questions. He nods. She pulls down the visor to look in the mirror and, to her surprise, her own tear- stained face stares back at her. "I-I guess I am." H says, startled and confused, crying was not something H did. "Look, sis..." Jack starts. "I know his death was hard on you and with everything going on lately, you haven't had time to properly grieve, but we're starting a new life here. Taking some time off, y'know. So, if ever there was a time to let those pent up emotions out, now would be it. You've been closed off for too long. I think it's about time for you to open up. Meet new people, make some friends, focus on something other than work. You've been in the dark for way too long. Maybe... maybe it's time to embrace the light, y'know. Even if it's only temporary." Jack then looks at H and sees a look of utter shock on her face. "What?" Jack asks. "First off," H says after recovering. "I think that's the most you've spoken at one time in who knows how long." H states still with a look of amazement on her face. "Secondly, when the hell did you become a motivational speaker? Cuz that right there was like something out of a book. Did you rehearse that beforehand or...?" H trails off. "Oh shut the hell up! I can be eloquent when I wanna be! I did go to college you know." Jack states with a smug look. " 'Eloquent'? Who the hell are you and what have you done with Jack?" H jokes. Bitch, Jack thinks. I heard that, fuckwad. H thinks back. Jack growls in annoyance. "Woah! Easy there, tiger. Trying to fit in with humans, remember? Last I checked, humans don't growl." H reminds him. "Right, sorry." Jack apologizes. "No worries. Just don't do that in public and we should be fine." Says H. "Let's just hope we don't run into any nomads passing through." Jack says. "Long as they don't cause problems they'll be fine." H states. "Speaking of vamps, you got you're weapons, right?" Jack asks. "Always." H responds, taking her boot knife out and flipping it before resheathing the blade. "Good, just making sure." They spend the rest of the ride in comfortable silence, listening to the music and enjoying each others company. Neither feels the need to speak, they simply sit there, lost in their own thoughts, each preparing for the new life they'll soon start. As they drive under the sign that reads 4 words. The 4 words that sealed their fate. 'Welcome to Raccoon City'.